Envelope-feed mechanism



Oct. 25 1927.

G.E.SHELDWCK ENVELOPE FEED MECHANISM Filed July 9, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheetl d /50 /J '2 5d 4 l /Ja wmwmmmwmwm G. E. sHELDRlcK ENVELOPE FEED MECHANISM oct. 25,1921. 1,646,883

Filed July 9, 1923 2 SheelZS-Shee'c2 060765'. 571e Zdrcc( rasata oci. 25, 192?.

PATENT OFFICE.

enonon n. snni'innioiz, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, `iissIorNOit, BY` ivinsNn ASSIGNMENTS, To rrTNnY-Bovfns rosTAGE METER COMPANY, or STAT/moan, CONNECTICUT, a

BPORATION OF DELAWARE.

nNvnLOrn-Fnnn MECHANISM.

Application filed July 9,

This invention relates to feed mechanisms and more particularly to mechanisms for feeding envelopes and the like. The invention has a special application to machines for sealing and stamping mail matter or for printing mailing permits on the same.

lt the object of the invention to provide a mechanism that will automatically feed envelopes, one by one, to suitable feed rolls or the like from a. stack or pile of any size.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved feed mechanism;

Figure 1 is a detail sectional View of a portion of the drive mechanism for certain rollers `which are mounted upon the envelope feed table, the section being taken on line itt-1a of Figure 1;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the invention;

Figure 3 is av view in elevation looking in the direction of feed;

Figure L.l is an elevation looking transversely to the direction of feed.

ln these views, the reference character 1 designates a horizontal feed table having a marginal depending flange 1a and 2 is a sheet metal stack carrier, forming a detachable extension ofV said table, inclining upwardly from the saine.4 2a is a track rigidly connected with the table 1, provision being made for feeding envelopes successively from the table on to said track. rllhe latter niay guide the envelopes While they are being subjected to sealing or stamping or any desired operations. 2" is a post mounting said table and track and 2 a set screw by which the unit comprising said tableand track may be held at various elevations. ljaidftable is formed with. slots 3 through which parallel rollers il, journaled in the flanges 1, project slightlyupivard. A row of smaller slots 4l in said table receive downturned tongues 4 on the lovver end of the stack carrier for holding said end in proper .positionn Atits upper edge and along 'one side edge, the stack carrier 2 is formed. with upstanding flanges 5 and 6 respectively, the latter forming an abutment` for the envelope ends. Said stack carrier also carries rails 6 corresponding respectively to the rollers 4, and 1extending in the direction of inclination, each preferably terminating above one of the rollers 4 (see 1923. Serial No. 650,429.

Figure 1). Said rrails are engaged by the grooved Wheels 7 of a carriage comprising a metallic frame 8 and a presser plate 9 upstanding thereupon, in a diagonal relation to the rails. The table 1 carries an upstanding plate 10 extending along its edge opposite to that engaged by the extension 2, and upon said plate there is mounted a deflector bracket 11 which projects above the table 1 to engage the rear ends of the envelopes and is inclined to the ultimate direction of travel of the envelopes at an angle l somewhat greater than that Of the presser plate. Said bracket is secured by a stud bolt 11a and cofacting clamping nut, said bolt passing through a longitudinal slot 11b in the plate 10 to provide for adjustment of said bracket in the direction of feed adapting it for use With envelopes of various lengths. The tendency of the detlector member 1'1 is to hold back the main stack ofthe envelopes from contact with that engaged by the rollers so as to minimize frictional resistance to advance of said engaged envelope. The envelopes, as soon as they feed from the stack carrier to the table 1 are urged in the direction o'f travel along the track 2a by a drive applied to the rollers 4C from a shaft 12 through beveled gears 13. Said shaft is driven through gears 13a from a short shaft 13-` transverselyjournaled in the track 2a, and a vertical shaft'lSc drives said short shaft through gears 13d and 130, the latter splined on said vertical shaft.: At each side of the track 2 there are vertically journaledV ooacting vertical rollers lll and 15, the latter preferably fast upon the shaft 13C. The rollers 14' are co-axial and slightly spaced and are driven, as indicated bythearrow, so as to frictionally urge in the direction of feed any envelope engaged between said rollers and the roller 15. The latter is relatively small and opposes the space intervening between the rollers 1/1, and is driven in the sam-e direction as the latter rollers, consequently exercising a retractive effort upon engaged envelopes, as roll 15 hasv av less coefficient of friction than the rollers 14. 16 is a guide arm approximately parallel tothe deliector 11, arranged adjacent the rollers 11i and 15, and tending to produce a stepped relation of the stack of envelopes as they approach the feed rolls so that the foremost envelope may more readily engage .singly iiignpon the stack carrier.

between said rolls. -Said arm is` mounted upon the post 2b by a lug 16a. 17 is a presser plate pivotally mounted upon a bracket 1'?"a carried by theplate 10 .and said plate 17,

overhanging'the table 1 for maintaining the envelopes in proper contact with the rollers 4.

plateto a slight downward pull.

- In the operation of the described inven- Y tion, the stack of envelopes ready'for seal ing or stamping j (or some other operation) are placed on edge on the stack carrier 2, the carriage 7, 8, Qhaving' rst been raised lto Vthe upper portion of said carrier. LIt is preferred to 'mount a hook-18uponthe flangeV 5 for engagement' with the carriage to hold the same in its uppermost position, while nenvelopes are being stacked upon the extension. Vhen ktlieenvelopes are in place, the carriagev is released, toact through the presser plate 9 upon the stack of envelopes,

tending toconstantly feedv them downward-V ly to thetable 1. ,j The rails 6in addition torforming guidesfor the carriage, provide vanti-friction'supports for .the envelopes rest- Such ofthe envelopes las rest upon the tabl-e1 are urged by the driven rollers 4 ytowardv the feed rolls 14, 15. .'Becauseof the relatively large area of frictioiial contact `of the rolls 14 withV the foremost envelope as compared tol ,the con-` tact area of the roll 15, said envelope is advanced by the former rolls regardless of the retarding effect exerted by the lattery roll. VIt is impossible, however, for more than' one envelope ata timeto advance between the rolls 14 and 15 because of the retractive effortiexerted bythe latter roll. ,This Vis for t-hereasonthat only the foremost envelope is subjectedto the feedingeffortof'the rolls Y 14 andronsequently any of the envelopes other than the yforemostone are restrained by the roller 15 from Yadvancing beyond the Y tangential line of saidrolls. .By suitably adjusting the bolts v11a in ,the slotv 111 `the deiiector bracket l11 may be shiftedy tol or from the rolls 14, 15 according to the length V` of the envelopes being fed. The table 1 and track, 2a, together Vwith the stack carriern., rollers 4 andl the the drive mechanism comprised by the shafts 12 and 13b and gears 13,y 13T1 and 13d forma unit which adjustable vertically topermit different sizes of envelopes to `be properly presented to mech- .anism (not shown) upon the base plate 1,

The 'gear 13e ,because of its spline connection `with the vertical shaft 13c maintains a drive to.` said rollers in all tical adjustment. The described ticularly vintended forj handling envelopes .is Lobviously Aadapted for accomplishing a unitary feed `0f stacked articles of any sort which `in their general dimensions correspond to envelopes, asY for example postpositioiis of such ver- 17b is a springV subjecting said presserV feed mechanism while par-V cards. The device accomplishes an important labor saving since once the envelopes are stack-ed upon the carrier 2 and upon the feeditable they are fed therefromautomatically without requiring.l attention.

It will:be.noted .that the table 1V has a triangular projection 2O beneath the stackcarrier 2, said extension at its apex carrying, a Vertical rod 21` whichv is pivoted to said stack carrier aiidlsupports the same. A set collar 22 on said rod provides for adjusting the saine vertically to adjust the stack carrier to the mos-t efficient inclination.

Y fWhat I claim as my 'invention is 1. In a feed mechanism for envelopes or the like, the combination with a movable support for the envelopes or the like, o1'

. means for driving said support, single-feed means toward whiclisaid support is driven,V and a defiector extending above said support at an angl-e to the direction of drive 1for engaging therearedges ofthe enveiopes. j v Y 2. In a feed mechanism for envelopes or the like, thecombination with a 'movable support for envelopes or the like, of drive meansl therefor, means for delivering envelopes nnder pressure to said support transversely to the direction of drive there4 of, and an arm extending above said support atan angle to the direction of drive thereof for engaging the rear edges of the envelopes. I

In a feed mechanism for envelopes or the like, thev combination,V with a'` feed table and an inclined carrier for a stack of eiiN velopes or the like, said table having van extension beneath .said carrier, and the lower end of" the carrier being Vsupported upon said table; ofV anotnersupport forsaid car- Yriermountedon said extension and adjustablevertically upon the extension to vary the, inclination of said carrier.

V4.` In a feed mechanism for envelopes oi' the like, an inclined stack carrier, a member movable: down the incline of said carri-er for exerting pressurc'upon the stack,`and

means for detachablysecuring said member Y uponl theV upper portion of said carrier.V

5; In a feed mechanism for envelopes or the like, aveitically adjustablefeed table, a i

plurality of'transversely disposed rollers mounted upon' said table, and meansl main- ;taininga drive to said rollers in anyposition of adjustment of said table.

6. In a feed mechanism for envelopes or 7 the like, means for driving said rollers in a constant direction, means for advancing envelopes upon said rollers in a direction transverse to the actuation of the envelopes by the rollers, and a single-feed device delivering the envelopes from the rollers.

8. In an envelope feeding mechanism a table provided with means for forwarding envelopes longitudinally thereof; an inclined carrier beside the table having a series of anti-friction rails disposed transversely to the table with their lower ends projecting over the forwarding means; and means for moving envelopes facewisealong the rails onto the forwarding means.

In mechanism as set forth in claim 8, means adjacent one endl of the carrier for separating the envelopes and successively forwarding them from the feeding means.

10. In mechanism as set forth in claim 8, nieans for yieldingly pressing the envelopes downwardly upon the forwarding means.

11. In mechanism as set forth in claim 8, means for yieldingly pressing the envelopes downwardly upon the forwarding means'; and means adjacent one end of the carrier for separating the envelopes and successively forwarding them from the feeding means.

19.. In an envelope feeding mechanism, a table provided with rollers for forwarding envelopes longitudinally thereof; an inclined carrier beside the table having a series of anti-friction rails disposed transversely to the table and having their lower ends projecting over the forwarding rollers, the envelopes being movable facewise along the rails onto the rollers.

13. In mechanism as set forth in claim .12, means adjacent one end of the table for separating the envelopes and successively forwarding them from the rollers.

la. In mechanism as set forth in claim 12, means for yieldingly pressing the envelopes downwardly upon the carrier.

15. In mechanism as set forth in claim 12. means for yieldingly pressing the envelopes downwardly upon the rollers, and means adjacent one end of the table for separating the envelopes, and successively forwarding them from the rollers.

16. In an envelope feeding mechanism, a table provided with rollers for forwarding envelopes longitudinally thereof; an inclined carrier beside the table having a series of separating the envelopes and successively forwarding them from the roller means.

17. An envelope feed mechanism comprismg a hopper, a series of rollers thereon for supporting and forwarding envelopes or the like, means for driving said rollers, a meinn ber upwardly inclined from said rollers and adapted to carry a stack of envelopes or the like to direct same to said rollers, guide members extended longitudinally of said member and a carriage engaging said guides and adapted to press the envelopes or the like forward onto the rollers.

18. Envelope feeding mechanism, comprising a feed table, means adjacent one end of the table for separating the envelopes and successively forwarding them; a series of parallel rollers for forwarding envelopes longitudinally of the table; a stack supporting member beside the table having a series of guide rails extending longitudinally of the member toward the rollers; means on the member to movel the stacked envelopes onto the rollers; and means for operating the rollers to move the envelopes edgewise towards the separating means. i

19. Envelope feeding mechanism comprising a table; means adjacent one end of thc table for separating the envelopes and successively forwarding them; a series of parallel rollers for forwarding envelopes longitudinally of the table, a member beside the table, rails disposed longitudinally of the member and projecting over the adjacent ends of the forwarding rollers to direct envelopes onto said rollers; means for moving` the stack of envelopes along the rails to-V wards the rollers; means for pressing the envelopes downwardly upon the rollers; and means for rotating the rollers to advance the envelopes successively to the separating devices.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE E. SHELDRIGK. 

